Business Management with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

This module will introduce you to the field of business management with the focus on the processes and actions within an organisational context. Concepts like management theory, organisational behaviour and the HR role of a manager will be explored. 

Have you ever considered why you bought your smartphone?  Or why you ate in that fast food restaurant?  Or why you decided to buy that brand of trainers? Every day, billions of people spend their money on products and services without necessarily considering why they decided to buy those particular offerings.  Whether you are aware of it or not, each of these products and services have been carefully developed to fulfil the needs of a particular target audience of which you may be a part. 

Whilst your degree is a highly valued indicator of achievement and ability for employers, a successful career is also dependent on the development of the right attitudes and behaviours. This is reflected in the findings from a recent survey undertaken by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which identifies that, in addition to qualifications, 60% of employers also look for broader skills when recruiting individuals straight from education. 

This module will introduce you to the concept of entrepreneurship.  You will study the basic concepts and theories in entrepreneurship, considering how entrepreneurs develop and grow individually.  In order to achieve this there will be a range of case studies of successful/unsuccessful entrepreneurs, understanding of entrepreneurship across borders and exploration as to what extent success of entrepreneurs could be based on traits, styles and behaviours of the entrepreneurs. 

The aim of this module is to allow you to understand supply chain, logistics, operations management, and their implementation in real businesses. You will gain an understanding of each operational function including procurement, manufacturing, inventory, distribution and delivery, and customer service following the supply chain and how each works together to run the business as a whole function.  

This module will provide a gentle introduction to the world of accounting and finance for business managers of the future and is designed for those new to accounting or those studying on non-accounting related degree programmes.  

The aim of this module is to provide you with the knowledge, skills and insights to research a ‘live’ issue in your industry with a view to formulating a practicable, impactful and value-added research project proposal which can be actioned in the final year. To this end you will be taught the key stages of methods in research. This includes learning how to identify research problems, select appropriate research methodology, collect and analyse data and write up compelling research proposals.

In order to help you implement you research proposal in your final year, you will also be introduced to core concepts and theories relating to project management to ensure you have the tools to successfully complete large scale research projects in the future. This model offers a successful strategy for designing, implementing and evaluating high performing projects.

An important question for business management students is: How can we most effectively manage for both today and for tomorrow?  This module will introduce you to various current contemporary management issues.

In this module, you are given opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of the development of soft skills, necessary for a manager, to prepare you for the for placement activities and for modern working life. During the module, you are given the opportunity to record your competencies using online recruitment platforms.   

Data-driven decision-making in organisations is reliant on good analytical techniques and reporting. Many organisation are heavily data-driven, treating their data as a corporate asset and finding ways of turning the information gained into competitive advantage. This module introduces you to data analytics and its reporting from a practical standpoint, gaining insights into customer behaviours and reactions, allowing you to make decisions to manage the business.

In today’s complex and highly dynamic global business environment, managers are expected to possess and utilise the requisite skills and sound application of knowledge to set and meet goals.  This module takes a practitioner based, blended learning approach towards embedding key management and leadership principles in the global context, as well as intercultural competency and a range of transferable employability skills. Consequently, it provides a progressive conduit for you to gain a broad understanding of global issues affecting managers today as well as preparing you to be global managers of the future. 

This module will give an integrative perspective of the business organisation and underpinning knowledge of Supply Chain, Logistics and Operations Management. It provides students with an introduction to the management principles, processes and the environment within which the Supply Chain manager operates. Core to the module will be an examination of management decision-making and the range of tools and techniques used to support the Supply Chain process. 

In this module you will explore the role of entrepreneurship and small business management with the view of sustainability. You will investigate and explore how organisations firstly form, then how they begin to evolve and be introduced to the planning required to establish the feasibility of a new venture, firstly with the idea and then how it will operate. You will use the opportunity recognition process to identify potential ideas either as a business start-up, a new venture in an existing business or a social enterprise, and taken forward as a solution to a contemporary issue.

There are many similarities between the roles of managers and management consultants.   In fact, managers are often considered to be ‘internal consultants’, as Butler (2010) comments “An effective manager is increasingly an effective consultant”.  

This module, where a programme of study enables it, is open to Business School students, who choose to undertake an international Study Abroad mobility experience within their second year of study. The aim of this module is to enable you to explore your mobility experience through a cross-cultural lens that focusses on the key themes of your discipline in an international context, together with your personal development. This is achieved by activities that draw on research enquiry, creativity, culture, reflection and professional development.    

This module will provide you with a critical understanding of the concepts, frameworks and approaches for the effective management of strategic change and its leadership. Consideration will also be given to the complexity of business operations, the rapid pace of technological innovation, and globalisation of businesses.You will explore drivers and challenges of strategic change in an organisational context as well as approaches for successful implementation of various change interventions.

The nature of today’s global business environment means that contemporary organisations are faced with a range of challenges and opportunities presented by increasing levels of uncertainty, ambiguity and complexity. In order to be successful organisations need to find ways to work with and indeed proactively exploit these conditions.

This module introduces you to a range of advance strategic management tools and techniques with which to analyse and thus understand business situations with national and international relevance. In addition, an understanding of competitive behaviour will be informed by a variety of views concerning the sources of competitive advantage, sustainable competitive advantage from a theoretical and industry perspective.These include the implications of developments in the macro environment, industry structure, the organization’s strategic position in an industry, the acquisition and development of resources and capabilities, and the challenge of industry evolution to sustaining competitive advantage.

The aim of this module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant research. It is founded upon Birmingham City Business School’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice.

This module focuses on the strategic management issues and decision-making approaches in the context of International Supply Chain and Operations Strategy. You will study strategic supply chain decision-making, focusing on areas such as corporate strategy, globalisation, procurement and outsourcing, international management, and strategic alliances. Core to the module will be an examination of management decision-making, and the range of tools and techniques used to support global strategic supply chain operations. The module content has also received recognition by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)’s.  

This module focuses on issues relating to the management and growth of a SME (Small, Medium enterprise) or social enterprises. This module will help you to identify ways in which the enterprise can upscale using internal and external resources.

The issues of ethics, social responsibility and sustainability in business have moved from the marginal to the mainstream during the last 40 years.  With the impact of consumption running at 1.6 planet’s worth of resources each year, society is increasingly looking to develop a long-term, sustainable vision for the future that takes into account not only the economic factors of business, but also considers the social and environmental impact of decisions.